Improvement in safety eailroad-switch



@einen gieten @anni @Hina BENJAMIN .E FARRAR, OF SPRINGrFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND D. BfWESSON, OF SAME PLAGE.

l Letters Patent No. 66,136, dated June 25, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT 1N SAFETY EAILEoAD-swiron.

TO ALL WHOMIT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, BENJAMI F. FARRAR, of Springfield, Hampden county, Commonwealth of Massachnsetts, have invented a new and useful Safety-Switch for railroad tracks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, and to the letter-sof reference marked thereon. In these drawings- Figure 1 represents a plan view of my switch, and

Figure 2 an end View of the same.

L My invention consists of a railroad switch so arranged as to render it impossible for a train to run off thc track by means of its displacement, the cars themselves forcing the switch into position until they pass, when p the switch resumes its original position.

In iig. l of the drawings, the rails marked A. form the straight track, and those marked B the branch. The switch is formedof two parallel rails, C'and D, hinged at X, and are operated by the rod E attached to their other ends and the lever F, which works in the frame G. 'Ihe lever'F is not attached directly tothe -rod E,'fbut is fastened, at its lower end, to the springs H I-I ouV each side of it-Vthese springs being fastened at the other ends tothe rodE. By this arrangement the switch can be moved by a certain amount of pressure, suiicient to overcome the stiifness of the springs, although the leirer F should be hitched. On the opposite side of lthe track from the switchis placed a guide, I, which guides the wheels ofthe branch train as it passes the connection. i i

For further illustration, wewill suppose a train to he coming down on the main t1'ack in thezdirection indicated by the blackv arrow, and'also that the switch is 'in the position shown bythe red lines, which is the proper arrangement for the trains on the branch passing either way. In this case the wheels onthe outside rail A continue steadily on, while the corresponding wheels on the other side press against the rail C of the switch,

. forcing it into the proper position until the train passes, when the reaction of the springs H H draws it back in its iirst position, i `Again, we will suppose a train coming down on the branch road, in the same direction, and that the switch is in the Vposition shown by the drawing, that is, set for the main track: in such an instance the outside wheels, coming between the outside rail B and the guide I, are, directed upon the main rail A, while the corresponding wheels on the other side press against the rail C of the switch, pushing the latter in the position shown by the red lines, which is the proper one for that train, and the springs H H reacting as before. Thus it will bel seen that trains coming in either of the two directions mentioned rectify the position of the switch, should it be wrong. But trains going in an opposite course-are directed as the switch may be set, without altering its position; but in no instance is the train thrown olf the track, as is-'frequently the case with theA ordinaryiswitch; and by means of my invention I secure safety upon a point which is sooften the explanation of serious accidents. l f

I am aware that switches have heretofore been moved by means of some 'attachment to the locomotive,

, aside from the parts ordinarily used, and do not claim that as my invention; no1' do I claim a spring-rail, not

a part of theswitch; 'but what I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv A railroad switch so constructed vand arrangedthat, if left in a wrong position, the wheels of-the passing train will return therails temporarily to their properposition, and thel train continue upon the main track,\

substantially as herein set forth` BENJ. F. FARRAR. Witnesses Juli. GAEDINEE, EDWD H. HYDE, 

